The purpose of administering the EXPLORE test to 8th grade students is to help them see which subjects are their strengths. This helps them choose high school courses that will best prepare them for college and their career. The EXPLORE test is part of ACT's three-part program to assess college readiness skills.

The test also helps the school see how well it is preparing its students for college and beyond.

As a group, the Saint Alphonsus 8th grade students' scores exceeded national norms in all areas tested (English, mathematics, reading and science). Furthermore, individually, the Saint Alphonsus 8th grade students tested at or above expected standards for readiness for first-year college courses.

"These numbers show the students at Saint Alphonsus are receiving a high quality, academically challenging education," Muehleman said. "There is no doubt graduates of Saint Alphonsus are ready to excel in high school, college and beyond."

This is the second year Saint Alphonsus students have taken the EXPLORE exam, which is part of a testing initiative of the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools.

Here is how the scores break down:

English

National average 14.7/25

Saint Alphonsus average 17.9/25

Mathematics

National average: 15.5/25

Saint Alphonsus average: 18.2/25

Reading

National average: 14.6/25

Saint Alphonsus average: 16.8/25

Science

National average: 16.6/25

Saint Alphonsus average: 18.5/25

For more information, please call 847-255-5538 or visit http://www.saintalphonsusschool.com.

For over 50 years St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic School has celebrated its Catholic values with a strong math, science and technology curriculum.

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ABOUT SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI CATHOLIC SCHOOL

St. Alphonsus Liguori is a Catholic elementary school educating students from preschool through eighth grade. Faculty and staff are committed to developing each student as a whole by providing an outstanding Catholic education designed to promote religious, spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development. Saint Alphonsus is a proud recipient of the U.S. Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award.